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***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE*** BENSON & RILEY ON GOV. CHRISTIE’S BUDGET CUTS TO SENIOR AND DISABLED PROGRAMS

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(TRENTON) — Assembly members Daniel R. Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex) and Celeste M. Riley (D-Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem) issued a multimedia package Thursday in which they discuss the budget cuts Gov. Christie made to vital programs for senior and disabled New Jersey residents.

The multimedia package consists of a video of the legislators’ comments and audio and a transcript of same.

The video can be accessed directly via our website — www.assemblydems.com — or by clicking here.

The audio file is available upon request.

A transcript of comments by Assembly members Benson and Riley is appended below:

Assemblyman Daniel R. Benson (D-Mercer):
“These hearings are so important because, as the Democratic majority, we fought to restore funding that was so crucial to so many seniors and special care residents here in New Jersey.”

Assemblywoman Celeste M. Riley (D-Cumberland):
“I just heard testimony from people that I would have never met. The facility is not in my district. But, they had access to me and to my ear today. And now I know how important it is for us to save this money; to make sure that this facility gets this money.

“And my voice is going to the governor today saying, ‘Look, I think you need to take another… a second look.'”

Benson:
“What we’ve heard in this testimony today is that these cuts have real impacts on these New Jersey residents.

“These are our family members; these are our neighbors. And what’s going to occur is these residents will stay longer in hospitals, it’ll cost all New Jersey taxpayers more. These short-term cuts are penny wise and pound foolish.”